FRISCO, Texas — If the Dallas Cowboys want to make the playoffs for the fourth straight time next season, they need to win the 2024 NFL Draft.
They lost eight of their own players in free agency, tied for the third-most in an offseason in Cowboys history. Five of those losses were starters: running back Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans), center Tyler Biadasz (Washington Commanders), left tackle Tyron Smith (New York Jets), defensive end Dorance Armstrong (Commanders of Washington) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (Seattle Seahawks). ).
These losses occurred because Dallas was unable to revive quarterback Dak Prescott ($55.1 million cap hit in final year of contract), who led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes in 2023, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb ($17.991 million cap hit in 2023). final year of contract), who led the NFL with 135 catches in 2023, to long-term extensions before hitting free agency. This would have allowed the Cowboys to distribute those cap numbers more evenly in future seasons. They signed two external free agents this offseason: Pro Bowl linebacker Eric Kendricks, 32 (one-year deal, $3 million) and 28-year-old journeyman running back Royce Freeman.
“We’re very happy with what we’ve done in free agency. All in. All in. All in,” Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. “We’re all on board with these kids. We’re all on board with this draft. We’re all on board with knowing you’ve got to go. We’ve made adjustments. … Again, without sounding at all on the defensive, The young people, the young people who come here and play are progressively viable We count on them and that’s what happened for us.
Here are all of the Cowboys’ picks, along with their selections.
|
1 |
29 (via trade with Detroit Lions) |
Tyler Guyton, occupational therapist, Oklahoma | B (Pete Prisco) |
|
2 |
56 |
Marshawn Kneeland, DE, West Michigan | B- (Chris Trapasso) |
| 3 | 73 (via trade with Detroit Lions) | Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State | B+ (Chris Trapasso) |
|
3 |
87 |
||
|
5 |
174 (compensatory choice) |
||
|
6 |
216 (compensatory choice) |
||
|
7 |
233 (via Raiders trade) |
||
|
7 |
244 |
Cowboys select Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton at 29th overall
Dallas basically held up a flashing neon sign during its pre-draft press conference on Tuesday when talking about its biggest draft need: offensive line. After eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith left for the New York Jets and Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz followed Dan Quinn to the Washington Commanders in free agency, the Cowboys had holes at center and either left guard or left tackle, depending on where they decide to play 2023 Pro Bowl left guard Tyler Smith, a college left tackle at Tulsa, in the future.
“I think in general, if you look at the attrition, if you talk about where it hits us the hardest, it’s the guys that we lost on the offensive line,” the GM said Tuesday. Operations and Cowboys Executive Vice President Stephen Jones.
Smith revealed he felt more comfortable at left guard after the Pro Bowl nod, but he’s friendly to the idea of playing left tackle. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy accidentally revealed that he considered Smith’s best position as left guard.
“Now where Tyler would line up, he would probably be at guard…or maybe at tackle,” McCarthy said with a laugh.
Now that the Cowboys have selected Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, an offensive tackle who hasn’t allowed a sack on 335 pass-blocking snaps in 2023, Smith remains at left guard. Guyton, who stands 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 322 pounds, has many athletic gifts. His 34 1/8 inch arms and 82 1/4 inch wingspan that he measured at the NFL Scouting Combine are ideal attributes for an NFL offensive tackle. Guyton was CBS Sports’ seventh offensive tackle and 36th overall player in this draft.
Guyton is quick on his feet and well-rounded in pass protection. The main element of his game is the way he uses his hands like a boxer, punching and counterattacking oncoming passers. He also has fluidity with his hips, which allows him to bend and recover well in pass protection. Guyton could improve his efficiency with his hands, and his leverage could improve if he reduced the number of snaps in which he stood too upright. Thirteen of his 15 college starts came at right tackle, so Dallas will have to work on him a lot to move to left tackle. However, Guyton was a blindside protector as earlier since Oklahoma’s 2023 starting quarterback, Dillon Gabriel, was left-handed.
Ultimately, Dallas gets what it wanted: an athletic tackle with whom it can replace Tyron Smith, and Tyler Smith stays at left guard where he and McCarthy feel he can play his best. Mission accomplished, even with the return of exchanges.
Prisco quality: B
“It’s a decision that was predicted by a lot of people,” Prisco said. “He played right tackle in college, but he can play left side. That fills a major need.”
Cowboys select Western Michigan edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland 56th overall
Marshawn Kneeland, a fifth-year senior who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 267 pounds, has the traits (34 1/4-inch arm and a 4.75 40-yard dash) to provide more juice for a Cowboys. The pass rush who led the NFL in quarterback pressure rate last season (45%).
Kneeland has a prototypical NFL edge rusher build, using the long wingspan and coming off the line of scrimmage to gain leverage advantage over offensive linemen. It also has a powerful engine and football IQ to diagnose reads in the running game.
The downsides are his quickness when thwarting a blocker’s attempt to slow him down is much slower than his initial jump off the line of scrimmage, and he can get lost inside. Having never had five sacks in a single college football season, 4.5 was his career high, which is a little concerning, but he faced regular double teams at Western Michigan. That will no longer be the case for him to play alongside three-time All-Pro rusher Micah Parsons and four-time Pro Bowl rusher DeMarcus Lawrence. With five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore no longer on the team and Pro Bowl corner Trevon Diggs coming off a torn ACL, adding more muscle to their defensive front will alleviate some of the burden. burden of their secondary school education.
Trapasso quality: B-
“A great tester who is maybe just scratching the surface of how good he can be around the corner,” Trapasso said. “Not quite playing his drive but working the OT edges very well. Showing glimpses of his ability to counter. He’s just never dominated in the MAC. Roll the dice.”
Cowboys select Kansas State OL Cooper Beebe at 73rd overall
Dallas moved its trade down five spots in the first round on Thursday, going 24-29 with the Detroit Lions in two new offensive linemen: Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton (29th) and interior offensive lineman from Kansas State Cooper Beebe.
Beebe, a consensus 2023 All-American and back-to-back Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year (2022, 2023), appears to be the long-term replacement for Zack, 33, a nine-time Pro Bowl right guard. Martin, who is entering the final year of his contract in 2024. Beebe has earned 12 first-team All-Big selections in each of the last three seasons because he is an absolute threat off the line of scrimmage . His bursting is superb, as is his handwork. Beebe consistently pancakes the opposing lineman down the field, rushing into the running game like a freight train, forcing others to adjust to his incoming presence. Beebe was primarily a guard in college, but perhaps Mike McCarthy will move him to center for one season in 2024 to replace the departed Tyler Biadasz.
Their projected offensive line for 2024 now looks like this: Tyler Guyton at left tackle, Tyler Smith at left guard, Cooper Beebe at center, Zack Martin at right guard and Terence Steele at right tackle. He’s a top-five player who has as much upside as any in the entire NFL.
Trapasso quality: B+
“The reconstruction of OL continues in Dallas,” Trapasso said. “Older, super experienced guard who is rarely out of position. Athletic limitations are evident. Low center of gravity gives him a quality anchor. Smart choice here despite minimal upside. High floor.”
